I MAKE it five players going for four spots so it should be another interesting night of darts action in Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Thursday night.
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
I don’t think Hamilton can qualify now and Van Gerwen is really on a massive high at the moment. He won another Pro Tour event over the weekend and is just loving his darts at the moment.
He does not fear anybody and is making people fear him. We know Hamilton is a fighter but the consistent scoring power of Van Gerwen will see him win this game quite easily.
ROD’S CALL: Van Gerwen win
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
James Wade did not play that badly last week but was just not firing on all cylinders. He will be up against his stablemate Whitlock who is really on the ropes and knows a loss puts him out of the running completely.
Wade is a tough cookie and needs to win – and he is very good at pulling out one when required. It would not surprise me if Whitlock won but I am going to go for Wade to just nick it.
ROD’S CALL: Wade win
Robert Thornton v Phil Taylor
Taylor is only playing one game this week so he will prepare himself just perfectly for it this week. Thornton beat Taylor early on in the Premier League but I cannot see him doing it again.
He has gone off the boil a bit and I think Taylor will be really gunning for him. Taylor does not want to finish fourth in the table because then you are down to play Van Gerwen in the semi-finals – and at the moment no one wants to play Van Gerwen! So Phil will be really up for winning this – and I think he will.
ROD’S CALL: Taylor win
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Lewis has had an atrocious year – probably an atrocious 18 months to be honest. He is just not consistent in the whole of his game while Barney is playing some super darts. We always say Adrian Lewis can turn up at any time and beat anyone.
Well, I keep on saying it but he has not done that this year and I cannot see him doing it either. Barney wants to stay in second or third place and I’m going for form all the way and tipping Van Barneveld.
ROD’S CALL: Van Barneveld win
James Wade v Andy Hamilton
Wade will be looking for four points on Thursday and the form book says he should beat Hamilton. But he does not want to make any mistakes because Hamilton can really punish people. He has gone off the boil a bit with his checkouts – he has been missing doubles the last few weeks whereas Wade hasn’t.
Forget about his loss to Barney last week, though, that is Wade all over and the previous weeks he has played brilliantly. I have to go for a Wade win.
ROD’S CALL: Wade win
Fourfold
Van Gerwen to beat Hamilton
Taylor to beat Thornton
Van Barneveld to beat Lewis
Wade to beat Hamilton
Pays 4.5/1
Rodney Trotter
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Taylor at 8/15 has to be a lump on surely
Not necessarily. Thornton has played well all season
Having looked at the matches tonight, not alot of value found in the first game, MVG will win but not gonna get rich backing him on his own so stick him in a double with Taylor, who likewise i fancy will win. Whitlock who came 5-3 down to beat MVG tackles Wade who was forced to eat his words last week when he was demolished by Barneveld. The wizard won the corresponding fixture and 15/8 his a cracking price to beat the machine again. Barneveld as i mentioned was awesome last week and faces Lewis tonight who cant make the playoffs and has been dreadful in the league, but odds of 4/1 reflect that, but im going for Lewis tonight, he is playing with no pressure on him, he got to the semi final on the tour event at the weekend and maybe he can relax here and play proper darts. Those who think im crazy could take Lewis +2.5 at evens at betvictor.
DOUBLE TOPS
Bet MVG & Taylor both to win their respective matches
Bet Lewis to beat Barneveld 4/1 various
Bet Whitlock to beat Wade 15/8 various
Bet MVG vs Hamilton match to have most 180s 5/2 @ hills
Bet over 10.5 legs in the Wade vs Hamilton match
(last 5 of all 2nd matches gone over 11 legs)
Good luck if your having a bet
At odds of 4/1 I will be on Thorn again.
Van Gerwen
Whitlock
Taylor
Barney
Wade
£10 returns £125
:)